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12 min read
Published On19 Aug 2025
Winner: McIntyre’s Southtown
1035 S. Presa St.
(210) 957-1385
mcintyresusa.com
2. Slackers Bar, North Star location
126 W. Rector Drive
(210) 530-4168
slackersbars.com
3. Bar 321
321 N. Main Ave.
(210) 257-8064
bar321sa.com
Previous Winners
Nightlife
Best Bar: River North Icehouse
Winner: River North Icehouse
317 W. Jones Ave.
(210) 277-0088
rivernorthicehouse.com
River North’s laid-back party spot, which opened in 2024, feels like an adult playground — think boozy barrels of Broadway lemonade made with vodka, peach and lemon, retro arcade games, a dance floor and a karaoke-ready stage that’s seen everything from DJ sets to impromptu matchmaking. With classic and frozen drinks flowing, River North has become a go-to for parties, networking or just kicking back like it’s your favorite Texas icehouse — only louder. Adding to the appeal, there’s a food truck typically parked out back in the grassy lawn, not to mention restaurants within walking distance.
2. Elsewhere Garden Bar & Kitchen
103 E. Jones Ave.
(210) 201-5595
elsewheretexas.com
3. Slackers Bar
Multiple locations
slackersbars.com
Winner: Evil Olive
2950 Thousand Oaks Drive, Suite 5
(210) 495-0970
evilolivesa.com
When it comes to hearty bar food and bites, Evil Olive takes the burger … oops, we mean “cake.” There’s the So-Tex burger with a hearty helping of barbecue sauce and bacon, and also a classic half-pound cheeseburger on a toasted sourdough bun with all the fixings. Meanwhile, the Trash Tacos filled with chicken strips, bacon, fries and queso are just as trashy — and tasty — as they sound. Add Steak Night Mondays and a formidable brunch, and it’s easy to see why readers are impressed. Evil Olive’s been a quiet staple since 2010 for a reason.
2. Cherrity Bar
302 Montana St.
(210) 598-0496
cherritybar.com
3. Wetmore Beach House
12329 Wetmore Road
(210) 475-3339
wetmorebeachhouse.com
Winner: Slackers Bar
Multiple locations
slackersbars.com
2. Be Kind & Rewind
115 Alamo Plaza
(210) 951-1980
bekindandrewindsa.com
3. Little Woodrow’s
Multiple locations
littlewoodrows.com
Best Bartender: Derek Anderson, Evil Olive Elixir Lounge
Winner: Derek Anderson, Evil Olive Elixir Lounge
2950 Thousand Oaks Drive, Suite 5
(210) 495-0970
evilolivesa.com
2. Fernanda Sabag, The Bonham Exchange
411 Bonham
(210) 224-9219
bonhamexchange.com
3. Mary, Kung Fu Saloon
5531 N. Loop 1604 West
(210) 756-1719
kungfusaloon.com
Winner: Liberty Bar
1111 S. Alamo St.
(210) 227-1187
liberty-bar.com
2. Down on Grayson
303 E. Grayson St.
(210) 248-9244
downongrayson.com
3. The Esquire Tavern
155 E. Commerce St.
(210) 222-2521
Best Cocktail Bar: The Modernist
Winner: The Modernist
516 E. Grayson St.
facebook.com/themodernistsa
Located in the East Grayson microdistrict, The Modernist is not only the Best Cocktail Bar according to our readers, it’s one of San Antonio’s best kept secrets. Without calling itself a speakeasy — an overused term that doesn’t really mean anything anymore — The Modernist effortlessly retains an if-you-know-you-know quality. Outside, it’s an unassuming bungalow. Inside, it’s a sexy cocktail lounge for only the most discerning palates. It’s the kind of place where lovers speak in hushed tones, turning conversation into elevated foreplay over an aromatic, artisanal drink. The bar doesn’t have a menu. Rather, its master mixologists ask you questions about the kind of drink you like, then build something intuitively to suit your tastes.
2. Bar 1919
1420 S. Alamo St.
(210) 227-1420
bar1919.com
3. Pink Shark
203 N. Presa St.
(210) 834-3372
pinksharkbar.com
Best Country Bar: The Lonesome Rose
Winner: The Lonesome Rose
2114 N. St. Mary’s St.
(210) 455-0233
thelonesomerose.com
Deep within our hearts lies a melody, and it seems a lot of readers are humming that same tune. It’s a fair guess the Lonesome Rose ended up as Best Country Bar precisely because it’s so much more. Some of the best country acts of the day have played its stage, but it has the rare quality of being a magnet for all types, from bubbas and punks to bikers and drunks. Honky tonk angels and freaks alike mingle under the glow of its neon beer signs. And though it has its regulars, its crowd largely depends on who’s playing that night. Often it’s a country band, but it could also be indie, conjunto, noise rock or something else entirely. Raise a glass to the oldest honky tonk on the St. Mary’s Strip.
2. Cowboys Dance Hall
3030 NE Loop 410
(210) 646-9378
cowboysdancehall.com
3. The SA Country Saloon
1134 W. Hildebrand Ave.
(210) 525-0915
instagram.com/sacountrysaloon
Best Craft Beer Selection: Flying Saucer – San Antonio
Winner: Flying Saucer – San Antonio
11255 Huebner Road #212
(210) 696-5080
beerknurd.com/san-antonio-flying-saucer
Despite being a Texas-based chain, the atmosphere and service of Flying Saucer’s Northwest San Antonio location make it feel like a long-established neighborhood hangout. This spot offers more than 100 craft beers along with a menu of bar bites, including fish and chips, buffalo wings and classic burgers. Regulars who drink 200 different beers from the frequently rotating selection also can join the UFO Club and have a custom plate bearing their name hung on the wall. The location also offers trivia on Tuesday, but get there early since it usually fills up.
2. Hoppy Monk
1010 N. Loop 1604 East
(210) 545-3330
thehoppymonk.com
3. Burleson Yard Beer Garden
430 Austin St.
(210) 354-3001
burlesonyardbeergarden.com
Best Dance Club: The Bonham Exchange
Winner: The Bonham Exchange
411 Bonham
(210) 224-9219
bonhamexchange.com
She’s an icon, she’s a legend and she IS the moment. The Bonham Exchange is a San Antonio nightlife institution, and not just because it’s been thrilling crowds for 40 years. The 25,000- square-foot club “where everyone is welcome” has three separate levels with 10 bar stations and multiple DJs playing house, EDM, top 40, hip-hop, Latin and more. The party is always popping, earning it the dual distinction of being named Best Dance Club and Best Gay Bar. But the accolades don’t end here. The Bonham also cleaned up for Best Drag Show and placed second for Best Bartender.
2. Be Kind & Rewind
115 Alamo Plaza
(210) 951-1980
bekindandrewindsa.com
3. Brass Monkey
2702 N. St Mary’s St.
(210) 480-4722
brassmonkeytx.com
Winner: The Mix
2423 N. St. Mary’s St.
(210) 735-1313
themixsa.com
Just about anyone can walk into this longtime favorite on the St. Mary’s Strip and feel accepted. You’ll find strip regulars and musicians shooting the shit on the patio, pool and darts enthusiasts doing their thing and plenty of 20-somethings stopping by on their bar crawls. Live music, including from touring acts, is also part of the draw, as are sweet drink specials, including $3 wells and $4 shots.
2. Finnegan’s Sports & Spirits
16260 San Pedro Ave.
(210) 495-4717
finneganssatx.com
3. Charlie Brown’s Neighborhood Bar and Grill
11888 Starcrest Drive, Suite 101
(210) 496-7092
charlie-browns.com
Best Drink Specials and Cheap Drinks: The Mix
Winner: The Mix
2423 N. St. Mary’s St.
(210) 735-1313
themixsa.com
Just about anyone can walk into this longtime favorite on the St. Mary’s Strip and feel accepted. You’ll find strip regulars and musicians shooting the shit on the patio, pool and darts enthusiasts doing their thing and plenty of 20-somethings stopping by on their bar crawls. Live music, including from touring acts, is also part of the draw, as are sweet drink specials, including $3 wells and $4 shots.
- Finnegan’s Sports & Spirits
16260 San Pedro Ave.
(210) 495-4717
finneganssatx.com3. Social Spot
930 Broadway
(210) 263-9009
facebook.com/socialspotsatx
Best Happy Hour: Slackers Bar, North Star location
Winner: Slackers Bar, North Star location
126 W. Rector Drive
(210) 530-4168
slackersbars.com
2. Be Kind & Rewind
115 Alamo Plaza
(210) 951-1980
bekindandrewindsa.com
Tie:
3. Hanzo
7701 Broadway, Suite 124
(210) 826-1488
hanzobar.com
- BB’s Tex Orleans
5423 W. Loop 1604 North
(726) 600-2022
bbstexorleans.com
Best Hotel Bar: Sternewirth, Hotel Emma
Winner: Sternewirth, Hotel Emma
136 E. Grayson St.
(844) 845-7384
thehotelemma.com
With soaring 25-foot ceilings and impeccable design, Hotel Emma’s Sternewirth provides a breathtaking setting to tip back a classic cocktail done right. The bar, situated in the former Pearl Brewery’s brewhouse, is named after the obscure tradition known as the Sternewirth Privilege, the pre-Prohibition perk of unlimited free beer extended on the job to brewery employees. Continuing the cheeky homage to its roots, old fermentation tanks have been converted into intimate booths at the sumptuously decorated tavern. The bar itself is also a work of art, with mixologists in aprons conveying the seriousness of their craft in front of its colorful, backlit bottles.
2. The Moon’s Daughters, Thompson San Antonio – Riverwalk by Hyatt
115 Lexington Ave.
(210) 942-6032
themoonsdaughters.com
3. Ocho Lounge, Hotel Havana (Closed June 29)
1015 Navarro St.
(210) 222-2008
bunkhousehotels.com
Best Icehouse: The Friendly Spot
Winner: The Friendly Spot
943 S. Alamo St.
(210) 224-2337
thefriendlyspot.com
2. Lucy Cooper’s Texas Ice House
16080 San Pedro Ave.
(210) 462-1894
lucycoopers.com
3. La Tuna Icehouse
100 Probandt St.
(210) 224-8862
latunasa.com
Best Local Brewery: Breakaway Brewing Co.
Winner: Breakaway Brewing Co.
1518 E Grayson St.
(210) 255-1149
breakawaybrewing.us
2. Longtab Brewing Co.
4700 Timco W. Suite 105
(210) 947-4766
longtabbrewing.com
3. Künstler Brewing
302 E. Lachapelle St.
(210) 688-4519
kuenstlerbrewing.com
Best Margaritas: La Fogata Mexican Cuisine
Winner: La Fogata Mexican Cuisine
Multiple locations
lafogata.com
2. Sanchos Cantina & Cocina
628 Jackson St.
(210) 320-1840
sanchosmx.com
3. La Fonda on Main
2415 N. Main Ave.
(210) 733-0621
lafondaonmain.com
Winner: El Bucanero, Blanco Road
16505 Blanco Road
(210) 408-9297
el-bucanero.com
2. Sanchos Cantina & Cocina
628 Jackson St.
(210) 320-1840
sanchosmx.com
3. La Laguna Mariscos & Sushi
23535 I-10 West, Suite 3001
(726) 444-0750
mariscoslalagunagroup.com
Best Music Venue: Aztec Theatre
Winner: Aztec Theatre
104 S. St. Mary’s St.
(210) 812-4355
theaztectheatre.com
Originally opened in 1926 as a silent movie theater, the Aztec now operates as one of the city’s premier music venues as its building approaches the century mark. Over the course of its decades entertaining San Antonio, it’s had many ups, downs and reinventions. It was reimagined as a live music venue in 2013, and the developers wisely left its garish Aztec statuary intact. Live Nation took over in 2015, and since then it’s hosted some of the biggest names that have come through San Antonio, including Parliament Funkadelic, Melvins, Molchat Doma, Leon Russell, Marilyn Manson, Psychedelic Furs, Garbage, En Vogue and more.
2. Boeing Center at Tech Port
3331 General Hudnell Drive
(210) 600-3699
boeingcentertechport.com
Tie:
3. The Rock Box
1223 E. Houston St.
(210) 677-9453
therockboxsa.com
3. Paper Tiger
2410 N. St. Mary’s St.
papertigersatx.com
Best New Bar: River North Icehouse
Winner: River North Icehouse
317 W. Jones Ave.
(210) 277-0088
rivernorthicehouse.com
River North’s laid-back party spot, which opened in 2024, feels like an adult playground — think boozy barrels of Broadway lemonade made with vodka, peach and lemon, retro arcade games, a dance floor and a karaoke-ready stage that’s seen everything from DJ sets to impromptu matchmaking. With classic and frozen drinks flowing, River North has become a go-to for parties, networking or just kicking back like it’s your favorite Texas icehouse — only louder. Adding to the appeal, there’s a food truck typically parked out back in the grassy lawn, not to mention restaurants within walking distance.
- Southtown House of Spirits
727 S. Alamo St., Suite 200
(512) 387-0107
instagram.com/southtownspirits3. Wetmore Beach House
12329 Wetmore Road
(210) 475-3339
wetmorebeachhouse.com
Best Rooftop Bar: The Moon’s Daughters
Winner: The Moon’s Daughters, Thompson San Antonio – Riverwalk by Hyatt
115 Lexington Ave.
(210) 942-6032
themoonsdaughters.com
The Moon’s Daughters made its debut in 2021, offering classy cocktails, Mediterranean cuisine and unparalleled views from the 20th floor of downtown’s Thompson San Antonio hotel. The spacious ind00r-outdoor lounge includes both dining tables and comfy lounge spots, offering 360-degree views of the city that live up to its mythologically inspired name. While the skyline is the star here, the cocktail program is no slouch — the Fade to Cab’s blend of bourbon, date honey, lemon and cabernet is a complex winner — and the Mediterranean bites are flavorful yet approachable.
2. 1Watson, AC Hotel San Antonio Riverwalk
111 Soledad St.
(210) 222-8300
1watsonrooftop.com
3. Paramour at the Phipps
102 9th St. Floor 4
(210) 417-6559
paramourbar.com
Best Sunday Funday: Elsewhere Garden Bar & Kitchen
Winner: Elsewhere Garden Bar & Kitchen
103 E. Jones Ave.
(210) 201-5595
elsewheretexas.com
2. The Friendly Spot
943 S. Alamo St.
(210) 224-2337
thefriendlyspot.com
3. The Lucky Duck
810 N. Alamo St.
(210) 504-9425
satx.luckyducktx.com
San Antonio Current
editor@sacurrent.com
marketing@sacurrent.com
(210) 640-7103